Table of Contents
Costa Rica Fishing Calendar
Fishing is a great sport, and Costa Rica is a lovely place to get out on the water and catch some really good fish. Costa Rica is known for having one of the best sport fishing activities in the world and is a popular destination when planning a fishing vacation. Knowing what fish you can catch in any given month can help you decide when you want to go fishing. To give you a general idea of what you can expect to fish year-round in Costa Rica, the following are the fish species and the fishing calendar for the Jaco Beach and Los Sueños Marina in Costa Rica.
2. WAHOO
3. RED SNAPPER
4. AMBERJACK
5. GROUPER
6. SAILFISH
7. BLUE MARLIN
8. BLACK MARLIN
10. STRIPED MARLIN
11. MAHI-MAHI
12. CUBERA SNAPPER
13. ROOSTERFISH
| FISH | Jan to Apr | May To Jun | Jul to Aug | Sep to Oct | Nov to Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YELLOWFIN TUNA | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Good |
| WAHOO | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair |
| RED SNAPPER | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| AMBERJACK | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| GROUPER | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good | Good |
| SAILFISH | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Fair | Excellent |
| BLUE MARLIN | Excellent | Excellent | Fair | Fair | Excellent |
| BLACK MARLIN | Excellent | Good | Fair | Fair | Good |
| JACK CRAVALLE | Good | Fair | Good | Good | Good |
| STRIPED MARLIN | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Good |
| MAHI-MAHI | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Good | Good |
| CUBERA SNAPPER | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| ROOSTERFISH | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Yellow Fin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)
Yellowfin Tuna Facts: This is a type of tuna found in the surface waters of tropical and subtropical oceans around the world. Yellowfin is one of the largest species of tuna, weighing more than 300 pounds. The second dorsal fin, the anal fin, and the finlets between those fins and its tail are bright yellow in color which gives this fish its common name.
Where to Find Them: Yellowfin tuna are found between 15 and 40 miles offshore in Costa Rica. The best areas for catching yellowfin tuna are Quepos and Los Sueños, as well as up and down the Pacific coast.
Feeding Habits: Although tuna have been seen to hunt near the surface, they prefer to hunt for their meal in deeper ocean water. As a result, octopus, dolphin, squid, lobster, and other tuna make up the majority of their diet.
Sporting Qualities: Yellowfin tuna is an excellent food and sport fish, they are highly sought after by fishermen and commercial fishermen alike. After taking the lure or bait, they often dive deep and fight with great strength and persistence.
Effective Fishing Technique: Fishermen often troll brightly colored lures or rigged baitfish to catch this fish. If you are trolling, try cedar plugs, tuna feathers, or blue or white plastic trolling lures. They preferred a water temperature of 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Yellowfin Tuna Fishing Calendar:
Jan to April -Excellent
May to June -Excellent
July to August -Good
October to September -Good
November to December -Good
World Record: 388 lbs. / 176 kg.
Wahoo (Peto)
Wahoo Facts: This fish can be found in tropical and subtropical oceans all around the world. Wahoo is a premium game fish because of its high-quality meat. The back is an iridescent blue, while its sides are silvery with a pattern of uneven vertical blue bars with razor-sharp teeth.
Where to Find Them: Wahoo can be found all year long off both coastlines. They have been spotted and caught in-shore close to reefs, but most of them are caught while trolling offshore for other fish like Sailfish and Dorado.
Feeding Habits: Wahoo can be found around reefs, wrecks, and pinnacles, they can also be found off the coast with other pelagic species. They can eat almost anything they want because of their teeth and speed. Despite the fact that they rarely jump, if hooked, they are known for their screaming runs that may burn out your reel.
Sporting Qualities: This is one of the fastest of all gamefish. Wahoo can hit surface bait in a remarkable way but rarely jumps after being hooked. The harsh fight is categorized by many sizzling runs, usually at or near the surface.
Effective Fishing Technique: Trolling live bait is the best way when trying to catch this intelligent and speedy fish. But makes sure you use a wire leader or they will bite right through you. The ideal water temperature for this fish ranges from 72 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wahoo Fishing Calendar:
Jan to April -Good
May to June -Good
July to August -Good
October to September -Fair
November to December -Fair
World Record: 158 lbs. / 72 kg.
Red Snapper (Pargo Rojo)
Red Snapper Fact: The Red Snapper, also known as the Pargo, lives in waters that are 30 to 200 feet deep or deeper. They all have a sloped profile, a spiny dorsal fin, medium-to-large scales, and a laterally compressed body. The red snapper has a light red color on the front and a more intense tint on the back. Adult red snapper can easily be identified from other red snapper species.
Where to Find Them: Red snappers are deep and shallow water dwellers. You can find them at any depth between 30 and 200 feet, and they are generally huddled near protective structures. Favorite hot spots include seawalls, piers, and ancient debris, which typically accumulate around a rocky bottom structure and a reef.
Feeding Habits: Snapper tends to eat squid, small fish, crustaceans, and chunked baits. They are voracious feeders and are caught with different types of baits.
Sporting Qualities: All types of Snapper present the hunter with a tough fight, especially when it is hooked on light tackle. They are strong fighters; they hooked them even harder, nodding to the bottom.
Effective Fishing Method: The best way is to slowly troll live bait or fish directly on the bottom. Dead bait fished on the bottom over rocky structures and reefs is one of the most effective ways to catch Red Snapper.
Red Snapper Fishing Calendar:
Jan to April -Good
May to June -Excellent
July to August -Excellent
October to September -Good
November to December –Excellent
Amberjack / Medregal
Amberjack Fact: This is a well-known game fish that can be found in large schools in the warm ocean waters of Costa Rica. Amberjack is a ray-finned fish belonging to the Carangidae family. They have many other names like mossback, forktail, and white salmon.
Where to Find Them: Amberjack are popular game fish; they spend most of the year in the warm ocean water of Costa Rica. They are usually found near reefs, rocks, and wrecks, where they breed. Amberjack is available year-round and has no real low season.
Feeding Habits: Amberjacks are opportunistic predators that congregate in small groups to eat over reefs and wrecks. Squids, crabs, and other reef fish are among their favorite foods.
Sporting Qualities: The amberjack is a great fighter fish, one of the favorites among fishermen who enjoy a tough challenge. The fish often puts on a great show while jumping out of the water.
Effective Fishing Technique: Amberjack is caught through bottom fishing, mainly with live bait but occasionally with jigs. Just like grouper and snapper, amberjack will occasionally dive into cover, so it’s important to quickly get the fish moving upward. Once the fish has been hooked, the fisherman must concentrate on maintaining a firm holds on the rod and reel, to avoid having your tackle snatched from your hands by amberjacks.
Amberjack Fishing Calendar:
Jan to April -Good
May to June -Good
July to August -Good
October to September -Good
November to December -Good
World Record: 156 lbs. / 70 kg.
Grouper / Agrupador
Grouper Facts: In Costa Rica, there are many different subspecies of grouper; these include the black grouper, goliath grouper, and yellowfin grouper. With a large mouth and heavy body, they can consume prey of various sizes with ease.
Where to Find Them: The Costa Rican water means a lot to this species, the following are just a few of the places where you can find these amazing species in Costa Rica, Jaco Beach, Quepos, Bay Pines, Manuel Antonio, and the list goes on.
Feeding Habits: Groupers are carnivorous fish that eat other small fish species such as wrasses, snappers, damselfishes, parrotfish, as well as crustaceans, octopuses, lobster, crab. Among their prey are algae, Zooplankton, and other small creatures, which are commonly eaten by juvenile groupers
Sporting Qualities: Grouper can be fished close to the shore, almost all year with either live or dead bait, such as squid. They have a reputation for having aggressive strikes and are strong fighters.
Effective Fishing Technique: The great one to start with is the regular bottom fishing tackle setup. You can use a heavy-duty 6 to 7-foot long heavy-duty action rod with a bottom-fishing reel and 50-pound test braided line.
Grouper Fishing Calendar:
Jan to April -Excellent
May to June -Good
July to August -Excellent
October to September -Good
November to December -Good
World Record (Goliath Grouper): 680 lbs. / 308 kg.
Sailfish (Pez Vela)
Sailfish Facts: Sailfish are deep-sea marine fish that spend most of their adult lives between the near-surface mixed layer and the thermocline. They have a large, sharp bill that they use to fish for sardines, tuna, and mackerel. They are dark blue on top, brown-blue laterally; silvery white below the abdomen, their first dorsal fin is significantly enlarged in the shape of a sail.
Where to Find Sailfish: Costa Rica is one of the best places in the world to catch large quantities of Pacific sailfish and is known to produce some of the largest. Sailfish will migrate in deep, warm waters, but they have been known to move close to shore to feed. They are usually caught in the Los Sueños area between 18 and 35 miles from the shore.
Feeding Habits: Sailfish have carnivorous feeding habits, which means that they eat other animals. Their diet consists mainly of fish and shellfish, which makes them omnivores. They generally eat small fish and squid. Some of the different types of prey they hunt include anchovies, anchovies, squid, octopus, mackerel, herring, and more.
Sporting Qualities: Sailfish are amazing sprinters, attaining speeds of up to 65 miles per hour. They are known to make stunning long hard runs and aerial jumps when hooked, and they usually travel in groups of three to thirty, making the chances of a double hook-up very good.
Most Effective Fishing Method: Trolling live bait can be a very effective method of fishing Sailfish. The trick is to troll as slowly as possible. Sailfish may be caught with a variety of baits. The small Ballyhoo rig is one of the most popular baits for trolling sailfish.
Sailfish Fishing Calendar:
January to April -Excellent
May to June -Excellent
July-August- Good
September to October -Fair
November to December- Excellent
World record: 221 pounds/ 100 kg
Blue Marlin (Aguja Azul)
Blue Marlin Facts: Blue marlin has an elongated body, a lance-shaped snout or bill, and a long, solid dorsal fin, which stretches forward to form a crest. They prefer warmer surface waters and feed on tuna and mackerel but will also dive deep to eat squid.
Where to Find Them: Blue marlin can be found in tropical and warm temperate waters all around the world, with the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans being the most common. It is the most tropical of billfish; they are commonly seen in waters around the equator
Feeding Habits: Blue marlin usually feed on the water surface. although they may occasionally dive deeper into the water to feed, depending on the location of their prey. Tuna, squid, mackerel, octopus, and other variety of fish species native to the area are their prey.
Sporting Qualities: Blue marlin is often considered to be the most sought-after of all ocean sport fish. The blue marlin is a highly strong and powerful billfish that will battle hard and run fast for hours when hooked. They can suddenly dive into deep water and make wild jumps like some acrobatic fish species. This fish can be a true test of fishermen’s deep-sea fishing skills.
Effective Fishing Technique: Fishermen usually troll brightly colored lures and teasers, including natural baits such as tuna, mackerel, ballyhoo, and bonito in hopes of enticing these fish. The ideal temperature for blue marlin is 70 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit
Blue Marlin Fishing Calendar:
Jan to April -Excellent
May to June -Excellent
July to August -Fair
September to October -Fair
November to December -Excellent
World Record: 1402 lbs. / 636 kg.
Black Marlin/Aguja Negra
Black Marlin Fact: The black marlin is the only marlin that has non-retractable fins. Another distinguishing feature of black marlin is their dorsal fin, which is relatively the smallest of all billfish.
Where to Find Them: They are generally found in the tropics and subtropics areas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are a highly migratory, pelagic species that rarely swim more than 100 feet deep.
Sporting Qualities: The tremendous strength and exceptional size of the black marlin make them a favorite target of big game anglers. A fight with one of these fish can last for hours, wearing harshly on the fisherman and the tackle.
Effective Fishing Technique: Fishermen often troll bright colored lures or rigged ballyhoo baitfish to land Black Marlin. They prefer water temperatures of 70 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
Black Marlin Fishing Calendar:
Jan to April -Excellent
May to June -Good
July to August -Fair
September to October -Fair
November to December -Good
World Record: 1560 lbs. / 708 kg
Jack Crevalle (Caranx hippos)
Jack Crevalle Fact: These fish have silver with a yellowish belly and a black spot on the gill cover, and a black patch at the base of each pectoral fin. Fishermen fishing inshore in Costa Rica will come across them as one of the most common Jack species in the water.
Where to Find Them: They live around rubble and rocky structures, and usually run for cover when hooked. They may be found off the coast of Costa Rica, if you are fishing for tarpon in the Caribbean or roosterfish off the Pacific coast, you are more likely to come across them on the water.
Feeding Habits: Small fish are the main diet of Jack Crevalle, they are also known to eat crabs, shrimps, and small crustaceans. The juvenile crevalle jacks diet consists of small fish, while the adults are also seen hunting bigger fish.
Sporting Qualities: Throughout the year, several species of the Jack family can be found inshore along Costa Rica’s Pacific and Caribbean coasts. They are ferocious fighters, they grow larger than their Pacific counterpart, and they can grow to over 60 lbs and weigh nearly 40 lbs.
Effective Fishing Method: To catch Jack Crevalle when fishing in Costa Rica’s inshore waters, fishermen can use several different techniques to land them; these include live baiting, dead baiting, and jigging.
Jack Crevalle Fishing Calendar:
Jan to April -Good
May to June -Fair
July to August -Good
October to September -Good
November to December -Good
World Record stands at 17lb
Striped Marlin (Tetrapturus audax)
Striped Marlin Fact: They can be found in tropical to temperate Indian and Pacific Oceans, not far from the surface. They are the largest commercial game fish with a record weight of 190 kg and a maximum length of 420 cm (set in 1982).
Where to Find Them: They inhabit mainly the coastal areas and their water, these billfish species are found in abundance throughout the central Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. The Central Pacific is the best area to fish stripe marlin. They have been spotted and caught in Los Suenos’ waters.
Feeding Habits: Striped marlins are opportunistic feeders; they feed on fish like mackerel, sardines, and anchovies. Striped marlin will also eat invertebrates, such as squid.
Sporting Qualities: Striped marlin is believed to be one of the fastest swimmers, which makes it difficult to catch them live baits and bait bags. The swimming speed of this fish is around 50 miles per hour.
Effective Fishing Technique: Trolling whole fish, strip baits, or lures, as well as live bait fishing, are the most effective recreational techniques for landing stripe marlin.
Stripe Marlin Fishing Calendar:
Jan to April -Good
May to June -Good
July to August -Fair
September to October -Fair
November to December -Good
World Record: 200 lbs
Mahi–Mahi (Dorado, Dolphinfish)
Mahi–Mahi Fact: These fish are also known as the ‘dorado’ fish and the common dolphinfish. The name means very strong’ in Hawaiian and they live in tropical, neotropical, and subtropical off-temperature water around the world.
Where to Find Them: They are found close to the surface of the water and should not be mistaken for the dolphin mammal despite their name. This fish enjoys traveling and they are constantly on the move for long periods of the day.
Feeding Habits: The mahi-mahi is an active and high-energy predator with a big mouth, their diet includes squid, small fish, cuttlefish, and crustaceans. The young ones hunt small fish and zooplankton. They also eat flying fish that skims through the water.
Sporting Qualities: They are regarded as one of the best offshore game fish, and fishermen from all over the world hunt them. When hooked, they are known for leaping and flipping over the surface. They are interesting to catch because of their speed and agility, as they run long distances and jump frequently. Their preferred water temperature ranges from 72 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Effective Fishing Technique: The most effective fishing technique for catching Mahi is trolling. They are usually caught while trolling with rigged ballyhoo and skirted lures with bright colors. The average Mahi ranges in size from 25 to 50 pounds.
Mahi-Mahi Fishing Calendar:
Jan to April -Excellent
May to June -Excellent
July to August -Good
September to October -Good
November to December -Good
Cubera Snapper (Lutjanus novemfasciatus)
Cubera Snappers Fact: They are silver or steely gray to dark brown in color on the head, body, and fins, with a reddish tinge on occasion. Anglers fishing in Costa Rica will come across the Cubera Snapper, which is the largest snapper. This spectacular catch is a slow-growing, long-living fish. The Cubera features a rounded anal fin and massive pairs of sharp teeth, as well as thick lips, dark red eyes, and a rounded anal fin.
Where to Find Them: Cubera fish can be spotted swimming alone along reefs. They live near the shore, under ledges, overhangs, and rocky outcroppings above the water. The young ones remain in protected areas of mangroves and seagrass beds to avoid predators.
Feeding Habits: Snapper tends to eat small fish, crustaceans, squid, and chunk baits. They are true voracious feeders that can be caught with a variety of baits.
Sporting Qualities: All types of Snapper present anglers with a tough fight, especially when hooked with light tackle. They are tough fighters that make strong head-shaking runs for the bottom in search of cover when hooked.
Effective Fishing Technique: The best way to catch Cubera Snappers is to slowly troll or directly fish from the bottom. You can use dead baits or live crabs and young lobsters to fish on rocky structures and reefs. They prefer water temperatures of 70 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit
Cubera Snapper Fishing Calendar:
Jan to April -Good
May to June -Good
July to August -Good
October to September -Good
November to December -Good
World Record: 121 lbs
Rooster Fish (Pez Gallo)
Roosterfish Facts: Roosterfish is one of the most desirable and interesting inshore fish that roams the entire western coast of Costa Rica. This is perhaps the most famous species in the Jack family. They have 7 distinct spines that are found high above their dorsal fin when they are threatened or excited.
Where to Find Them: Roosterfish is a coastal species, therefore they are rarely found at depths of more than 200 feet. In Costa Rica, roosterfish are most commonly found near reefs, rocky islands, and peaks off the Pacific coast.
Eating Habits: Roosterfish is an aggressive and predatory coastal species; they mainly feed on other small fish such as sardines, red bonito, mullet fish, and blue runners. They have been known to hunt baitfish for a long time as if they are trying to herd them toward a beach or reef.
Sporting Qualities: Once hooked, Roosterfish will make a screaming run first. These fierce fighters are frequently seen near the surf, circling birds, and inshore water.
Effective Fishing Technique: Roosterfish can be caught with different techniques such as fly fishing, trolling, and spinning. They prefer a water temperature of about 72 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit
Roosterfish Fishing Calendar:
Jan to April -Good
May to June -Good
July to August -Good
October to September -Good
November to December -Good
World Record: 115 lbs. / 52 kg.